Sale v Gloucester - Teams

Sale Sharks are boosted by the availability of Charlie Hodgson for Friday's Guinness Premiership match against league leaders Gloucester.

Hodgson did not make England's match-day squad to play Ireland and will instead wear the No.10 jersey for the Sharks.

That means positional switches for Luke McAlister to inside centre and Elivis Seveali'i onto the wing.

Ben Foden is fit to start at full-back for the first time since November following a shoulder injury in the only other personnel alteration to the back division that played in the 24-20 defeat to Saracens last Sunday.

In the forwards, Eifion Roberts drops to the bench to make way for Stuart Turner at tighthead prop.

Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and Sean Cox form an all-new second-row, while Chris Jones switches to the back-row in place of Magnus Lund, who is among the replacements.

Sharples starts

Charlie Sharples is handed his first Guinness Premiership start in the only change to Gloucester's starting XV.

Sharples, 18, is named on the wing with James Simpson-Daniel switching to outside centre in place of Jack Adams, who broke his nose in the 34-14 victory over London Irish last Saturday.

Flanker Luke Narraway is named among the replacements after also being deemed surplus to England's requirements.

There are berths on the bench for Ryan Lamb and Leon Lloyd following respective shoulder and knee injuries.

"I think it was important last week that we didn't get too swept away with what happened," said head coach Dean Ryan.

"I was delighted with how individuals contributed to a really positive team performance.

"It's not possible for 18, 19 or 20-year-olds to come in and get everything right all the time but I do expect them to relish the opportunity and be energised by the experience.

"The key is whether they can reproduce it over a series of games.

"The way the squad is built means someone is always able to come in - we always knew these guys can play but it is about opportunities and they are now coming.

"It will obviously be a big test for us against a team of Sale's all-round abilities and qualities but another very exciting step for them in their development."

Sale: 15 B Foden, 14 E Seveali'I, 13 C Bell, 12 L McAlister, 11 O Ripol, 10 C Hodgson, 9 S Martens; 1 L Faure, 2 S Bruno, 3 S Turner, 4 I Fernandez Lobbe (capt), 5 S Cox, 6 C Jones, 7 JM Fernandez Lobbe, 8 S Chabal
Replacements: 16 N Briggs, 17 E Roberts, 18 D Schofield, 19 M Lund, 20 W Cliff, 21 L Thomas, 22 C Mayor

Gloucester: 15 J Bailey, 14 C Sharples, 13 J Simpson-Daniel, 12 A Allen, 11 M Foster, 10 W Walker, 9 G Cooper; 1 N Wood, 2 A Titterrell, 3 J Forster, 4 D Tuohy, 5 W James, 6 P Buxton (capt), 7 A Hazell, 8 A Qera
Replacements: 16 J Paul, 17 C Califano, 18 J Pendlebury, 19 L Narraway, 20 M Prendergast, 21 R Lamb, 22 L Lloyd